DENCOHAPPEL PRODUCTION GmbH

Factory Transformation in Wurzen - Germany

Wurzen, Germany 6TH OF SEPT. 2016: The Saxon district town contains the important production site for DencoHappel’s air-handling units (DencoHappel formerly GEA Air Treatment). The plant is being modernized to become the effective, efficient and quality manufacturer of our future.

To be an effective manufacturer in today’s world of international competition, you need a modern and organized production plant that can manufacture high quality products of excellent quality, efficiently. In recent years, DencoHappel has always looked towards improving and expanding the factory in Wurzen. Meanwhile this location, which plays a key role in the company, has grown to a combined production and logistics size of more than 23,000 m2. The redesign of the processes needed to consider and adapt to the recent expansions of the factory also. An experienced project team was assembled to transform and harmonize the entire factory.



“The goal of our factory transformation is very simple: increase the productivity of the facilities by focusing on the creation of value. The restructuring will not only improve the profitability of the location, but will also reduce the delivery time for our customers while at the same time maintaining the constantly high quality. ”, says Martin Schareina, Managing Director of DencoHappel Production GmbH in Wurzen.
The main warehousing area was positioned in the center of the plant between the assembly areas in order to achieve short supply paths for the employees. Furthermore, the machinery areas were joined together to provide a concentrated and specifically-directed flow of materials.

Wurzen’s factory transformation required a holistic process that applies to all areas, large and small. An essential goal is to avoid waste along with optimizing materials procurement and disposition. By applying new processes of disposition, acquisition, warehousing and provisioning, all resources are promptly provided with only the quantity that is required per manufacture. Following this approach has enabled the assembly line with defined places for materials, tools and products.

Accomplishing the extensive and complex project has required the co-operation of many employees from almost every department in the Wurzen plant. Assembly, Logistics and IT departments have conquered the complex challenges of the transformation process. A cross-functional definition of the project and the route to solutions formed the foundation for the newly-designed process which ensures the efficient linkage of material, information and departments.

Dr. Oliver Grimm, head of project-team, reports positively: “Naturally, we are not at the end of our factory transformation project. However, we have made significant progress in all areas and productivity has already recognizably improved. The factory is currently on a learning curve that should hopefully bring further purposeful changes.”



Contact Wurzen:

DencoHappel Production GmbH
Nicole Schmidt
Lüpitzer Straße 39
04808 Wurzen Germany
E-Mail: [email protected]